How do you support young people with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) and complex challenges with truly changing their lives? That is the challenge this project seeks to address. Standard cognitive behavioral therapy often proves to give ineffective results for this group. That’s why “De Nieuwe Kans” (DNK) in Rotterdam is using an innovative approach: combining Virtual Reality (VR) with practical exercises. This method offers a more personal and experience-based way of learning.

From pilot study to personalised VR training

In a pilot study, five young adults with MID participated in the program. Each participant set a personal goal, such as practicing for a job interview. They then spent ten minutes working in a personalized VR environment. Afterward, they discussed their experience with a trainer and reviewed their progress together. Four out of five participants reported gaining greater insight into their behavior and personal needs. They said VR helped them better prepare for similar situations in real life. They also found the VR setting engaging and valued the follow-up conversation with the trainer.

One of the participants noted: “The conversation and the questions felt like a real job interview. I learned that I want to be well prepared in a job interview, and I learned what I actually need to prepare.”

The following image provides an overview of the participants’ experiences:

Conclusion and follow-up

These initial findings show that VR can be a promising tool for this group. It allows them to safely and realistically practice everyday challenges, while enhancing their engagement and motivation in treatment. The combination of technology, personal goals, and guided reflection appears to align well with their learning needs.

The next step is to further develop personalized VR training, and to expand the use of this method within De Nieuwe Kans and potentially beyond.